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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


A PRAYER by JOHN BYROM

Poet Analysis

First Line: OH HEAV'NLY FATHER! GRACIOUS GOD ABOVE!
Last Line: WHICH IS NOT THEE, OR IN THY SPIRIT WROUGHT.
Subject(s): FATHERS; GOD; PRAYER; SOUL;

OH Heav'nly Father! Gracious God above!
Thou boundless depth of never-ceasing love!
Save me from @3self@1, and cause me to depart
From sinful works of a long-harden'd heart;
From all my great corruptions set me free;
Give me an ear to hear, an eye to see,
A heart and spirit to believe, and find
Thy love in @3Christ@1, the Saviour of mankind.

Made for thyself, O God, and to display
Thy goodness in me, manifest, I pray,
By grace adapted to each wanting hour,
Thy holy nature's life-conferring pow'r:
Give me the faith, the hunger, and the thirst,
After the life breath'd forth from thee, at first;
Birth of thy Holy JESUS in my soul;
That I may turn, thro' life's succeeding whole,
From ev'ry outward work, or inward thought,
Which is not Thee, or in thy Spirit wrought.



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